Pumping device



June l, 1954 P. M. w. BRucKMANN PUMPING DEVICE Filed June 1',

HTroR/VEY INVENTOR. ml M. Wfurmann.

Patented June l, 1954 PUMPING DEVICE Paul The De Florez Company, Inc.,

M. W. Bruckmann, AlpinefN. J., assignor to New York, N. Y.,

a corporation of Delaware Application .lune 1, 1951, Serial No. 229,373

2 Claims.

This invention relates to pumping apparatus and is particularlyconcerned with an improvement in apparatus of the type for moving nuidthrough a flexible tube having resilient walls, the apparatus beingadapted to be readily disposed between the ends of the flexible tube topump fluid in either direction through the tube and also to permit thefluid to move ireely through the tube without disengaging it from thepump.

The apparatus is constructed so that it may be operatively connected ordisconnected Without the necessity of disturbing either end oi the tube.The pumping devices in which this invention is particularly useful arethose of the type described in my copending application Serial No.210,403 filed February l0, 1951, now Patent No. 2,651,264, in which aloop of tube is disposed in a cylindrical chamber and the pumping actionis obtained by compressing successive contiguous areas of the tubebetween a rotating member and the wall of the chamber.

As noted in the above referred to patent application, the tube which isdisposed in the chamber has a tendency to creep during the operation ofthe pump and, to counteract this creeping action, certain prior deviceshave sought to anchor the tube against the cylindrical wall of thechamber. To achieve the desired anchoring effect, special tubes havebeen used which were provided with ilanges or projections adapted to bereceived in suitable recesses in the cylindrical wall of the housing.

In the applicants copending application, means are described and claimedfor substantially eliminating the creeping action of the tube duringoperation by providing constrictive passageways into the chamber oi thepumping device to hold the ends of the tube against the creeping. Inorder to remove the tube from the prior devices, it was generallynecessary to disconnect one of the ends of the tube from its receivingor delivery vessel so that the ends could be threaded through theentrance and exist holes provided in the wall of the chamber.

The copending application describes and claims suitable means forpositioning the tube in the pumping device while both of the ends aresuitably connected to their receiving and delivery vessels. Thecopending application also discloses and claims means for compensatingfor irregularities in the wall thickness of the tube and also means for`receiving tubes oi slightly different diameters.

The invention described herein relates to an improvement in pumpingdevices whereby the compressive means, for pumping the fluid through thetube by compressing successive contiguous areas of the tube in acyclical operation, can be released to permit the fluid to flow freelythrough the tube by gravity or by other means outside the pump withoutremoving the tube from the pump.

An important object of the present invention therefore is to provide adevice in which a standard liexible tube may be used in a pumping deviceand may have fluid pumped through the tube or be free to allow iluid torun freely through the tube Without the action of the pumping device butWhile the tube is in position in the pumping device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which can beconnected to and disconnected from the tube without disturbing the endsof the tube or contaminating the inside of said tube and also to providea device which will selectively permit fluid to be pumped through thetube or to now freely therethrough.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a means wherebytubes oi substantially diierent diameter may be used in the pumpingdevice and various sized tubes may be prevented from creeping during theoperation of the pump.

A still further object is to provide a means whereby the pumping memberor a portion of the chamber wall may be moved out of compressiveposition with respect to the other to permit the tube to be positionedor removed easily from its looped arrangement adjacent the chamber wall.

The invention includes a pumping device for moving fluid through aexible tube by compressing successive contiguous areas along a length ofsaid tube during each pumping cycle. The device comprises a chamberhaving a cylindrical wall, a door portion, and an open end. A cover isadapted to be removably positioned on said open end. The cylindricalwall may be formed with at least one opening therein. The chamber isadapted to receive a loop of tube positioned adjacent the chamber wall,the ends of the tube extending out through the opening. The wall of thechamber is of sufficient axial length to accommodate the tube when incompressed condition. A cylindrical pumping member having a diametersmaller than the cylindrical wall of the chamber is rotatably mounted inthe chamber on means for moving the pumping member in a path about theaxis of the cylindrical wall so that successive areas of the peripheryof the pumping member compress successive contiguous areas along thelength of the tube, against the cylindrical wall, during each cycle ofthe pumping member in the path about the axis of the cylindrical wall.

The device includes means for moving either the pumping member or atleast one portion of the chamber wall out of compressive relation toeach other, with respect to the tube disposed between the periphery ofthe pumping member and the wall. The device also includes means forconstrictively engaging the portions of the tube passing through theopening in the chamber wall when the removable cover for the chamber isin position on the chamber.

A more complete description of the invention is given below withreference to the attached drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of one form of apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View taken along the line 2 2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side View of the apparatus taken along the line 3 3 in Fig.1;

Fig. 4- is a top view of the apparatus as viewed along the line 4-4 inFig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of an alternate form of the invention; and

Fig. G is a fragmentary View of the alternate form taken along the line6 6 in Fig. 5.

The pumping apparatus includes a housing I which has a chamber IIdefined by the cylindrical wall I2, a iioor I3, and the inside face I4of the removably positioned cover I5. The wall I2 is formed to define atleast one opening I3 in its cylindrical surface. The chamber II isadapted to receive a loop of tube 24 which is positioned adjacent thecylindrical wall I2 with two portions of the tube extending through theopening I6. The opening may branch into diverging channels I1 and I8.The opening I6 extends substantially from the floor i3 of the housing IGto the face 2U of the housing. The channels I1 and I8 also extend to theface 2U of the housing, the channels being at respectively differentlevels as best shb-wn in Fig. 3 to permit the portions of the tube 24 tocross each other as they pass through the opening I in the manner shownin Fig. 2. The channels I 1 and I8 may be arranged to extend indiverging directions away from the opening at angles substantiallytangent to the cylindrical wall so that the tube is not bent sharply asit passes out of the chamber I I.

To prevent the tube from creeping during the operation of the pump, thechannels I1 and I8 may be of a diameter slightly smaller than thediameter of the tube, in accordance with the disclosure of my copendingapplication, Serial No. 210,403 filed February 10, 1951, now Patent No.2,651,264.

Another suitable means for holding the tube 24 in position in thechannels is illustrated in the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 3 whereinthe channels I1 and I8 are of substantially the same or even of greaterdiameter than the diameter of the tube to be received in the channels.Projections 2I are provided on the cover I5 which extend into thechannels I1 and I8 and constrictively engage the tube disposed in saidchannels.

The cover` i5 may be provided with any suitable means for removablysecuring it on the face 2U of the chamber i5 to close the cylindricalchamber II. In the forms shown in the drawings, the cover is providedwith dowel pins 22 to prevent the rotation of the cover with respect tothe housing and to correctly position the projections 2| with respect tothe channel openings I1 and I8. Holes 23 are formed in the face 20 ofthe housing I 3 to receive the dowel pins in the desired position. Thecover I5 may be maintained on the face 2l] by suitable means such asspring clips 25 which may be pivotally mounted at 29 to the housing I0so that they may be moved up to engage the cover I5 as best shown inFig. 3. The outer end 2G of each spring clip 25 is formed to cam overthe shoulders 21 which are provided in the outer surface 23 of the coverI5 to lock the cover in position when the spring clips 25 are in theposition shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

In order to remove the cover, the ends 26 of the spring clips 25 arepressed upwardly and outwardly so that the ends of each pass over therespective shoulders 21 with which they are engaged. The cover I5 maythen be lifted oif the housing IIJ.

A cylindrical pumping or compressing member 30 may be mounted in thechamber II for rotation about its axis on the shaft 3l, suitable bearingmeans 32 being interposed between the shaft and the cylindrical pumpmember' 30. The pumping member may be maintained on the shaft 3| bysuitable means.

The shaft SI is eccentrically fixed with respect to the axis of thecrank shaft 35 on the disc 33. The disc 33 is fixed on the crank shaft35 as best shown in Fig. 2. A bushing 36 is rotatably and concentricaliymounted with respect to the axis I3 oi' the cylindrical wall I2 inbearing housing 31. The bushing 38 is formed with a bore 38 which iseccentric with respect to the axis I9 of the cylindrical wall. The boreis of a size to receive the crank shaft 35 in rotatable positiontherein. The end l0 of the crank shaft 35, extending beyond the housing,is provided with a collar 4I which is xed on the shaft 35 by means ofthe set screw 42 engaging in a recess 43 formed in the crank shaft. Thebushing 36 is provided with an enlarged portion 45 which may be integralwith the bushing and is interposed between the collar 4I and the outerend 46 of the housing. A locking pin 41 extends through the collar 4Iand is adapted to engage in holes 48 tapped in the enlarged portion 45of the bushing 36. A spring 58 may be provided to urge the locking pininto position in one of the holes 48 and a knob 5I may be provided atthe end of the locking pin to facilitate grasping of the pin when it isdesired to move it out of its position in one of the holes 48. Suitablemeans for rotating the bushing may be provided, such as the crank 52which is releasably fixed on the portion 45 of the bushing by means ofthe expanding collar 53 which is locked in place by the screw 55. Ahandle 55 may be provided on the arm of the crank 52.

When the locking pin 41 is in the position shown in Fig. 2, in which theend 51 of the pin is seated in one of the holes 48 of the enlargedportion 45 of the bushing 36, the crank shaft and the bushing are lockedtogether and consequently the crank shaft 35 is rotated when the bushing36 is rotated.

By moving the locking pin out of the hole 48, shown in Fig. 2, the crankshaft 35 can be rotated with respect to the bushing 36 so that therelative eccentricity of the crank 3| may be changed with respect to theaxis I9 of the cylindrical Wall.

In the position shown in Fig. 2, wherein the crank shaft 35 iseccentrically offset from the axis I9 of the cylindrical wall in thesame direction as the offset of the shaft 3| from the shaft 35, theperiphery 39 of the pumping member compresses the tube 24 against thecylindrical wall I2.

If the locking pin is released and the crank shaft 35 is rotated 186with respect to the bushing 36, the crank shaft will be eccentricallyoffset with respect to the axis I9 of the in a direction opposite tothat of the offset of the shaft 3i with respect to the crank shaft 35,the effect of the two oppositely disposed offsets being to substantiallyequalize each other and cause the shaft 3l to be moved toward the axisof the cylindrical wall I2. In such position, the periphery of thepumping member will not compress the tube 2li against the cylindricalwall I2.

In operation, with the tube looped in the chamber as shown in figures,and the cover I5 fixed in position on the housing in the mannerdescribed and, with the pumping member in the position to compressivelyengage the tube against the cylindrical wall, the bushing 35 and thecrank shaft 35 locked with the bushing 35 may be rotated by turning thecrank 52 by means of the handle 56. The pump may be operated in eitherdirection to effect the pumping action which is obtained by milking thetube, i. e. compressing successive contiguous areas thereof. Therotation of the bushing 35 with the crank shaft 35 locked therein causesthe shaft 3l to move in a circular path 3d indicated in dotted lines inFig. l about the axis I9 of the cylindrical wall I2.

As the pumping member 3!! is caused to move in the circular path 34,successive areas of the periphery 39 of the member 36 compresssuccessive areas of the tube 2d, the member 33 rotating about its ownaxis 3l, while the axis 3l moves in the circular path 3d about the axisI9. As the successive compressions are exerted on the tube 2li by themember 3U, fluid in the tube 24, ahead of the point of compression, isforced through the tube in a direction in which the member Se is movingin the path 34. If liquid is not in the loop of the tube 2d contained inthe pump chamber i I at the beginning of the pumping operation, themovement of the pumping member 3e around the cylindrical wallsuccessively compressing areas of the tube 2li, causes the air to bepushed from the tube in front of the liquid to be pumped through thetube so that the liquid is drawn into and through the pump by syphoningaction. The recovery characteristics of the tube after compressioncreates suiiicient vacuum to refill the loop so that a steady now may bemaintained by continuously rotating the member 33. The direction of nowof the liquid through the pump may be changed by changing the rotationaldirection of the bushing 36 and the crank shaft 35 locked therein.

The improvement of providing a means for releasing the pumping member 30from compressive engagement with the tube 24 against the cylindricalwall I2 is of considerable advantage because initially, when the tube isto be placed in the pumping chamber I I, the pumping member can be movedout of the compressive position and the tube may be seated readily inthe chamber about the cylindrical wall. Thereafter, the crank shaft 35may be rotated 180 with respect to the bushing 36 and be locked in theposition shown in Fig. 2 so that the periphery I9 compressively engagesthe tube 24 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Furthermore, during the pumping operation, it may be desired to releasethe tube from compressive engagement with the pumping member 30 topermit free flow of the fluid through the tube.

cylindrical wall This can be readily achieved by removing the end' 51 ofthe locking pin from the hole 48 shown in Fig. 2 and rotating the crankshaft 180 with respect to the bushing 36. It has been found in theutilization of the pumping device in blood transfusions that it isfrequently desired to stop the pumping action and to permit the blood toflow by gravity. By the arrangement described, it is thus possible toaccomplish this result easily and rapidly without removing the tube fromthe pump.

Fig. 4 illustrates several intermediate holes 48 tapped in the member inwhich the locking pin may be positioned. These intermediate positionsmay be utilized in an instance where it is desired to have an imperfectvacuum on the tube in order to increase the gravity flow of the fluidthrough the pump but without obtaining complete pumping action. Theadditional intermediate positions may also be used where the wallthickness of the tube or the diameter of the tube is such that thecompressive engage-` ment is achieved at some point intermediate the twoextremes of the eccentric offsets of the shaft 3| and the shaft 35.

Fig. 5 illustrates an alternative means by which the compressiveengagement of the pumping member may be relieved. In that form of theinvention, a portion 6i) of the housing 5I is adapted to be displacedoutwardly from the chamber 52 defined by the cylindrical wall 63. Theportion EI) has an inner arcuate face S5 which, in the closed positionshown in Fig. 5,

l completes the cylindrical wall 53 of the chamber member to theposition shown in Fig, 5.

62. The portion is pivotally mounted at 66 to permit the outwardmovement of the end 61 of said portion E0. A slot 'II is formed in thehousing beneath the portion 60 and a lock screw, such as the wing headscrew 3'2, is positioned in the slot and tapped into the lower side ofthe portion Gil as best shown in Fig. 6. By releasing the lock screw 'I2and grasping the extension 'I3 of the end 61, the portion 60 may bepivoted outwardly about the pivot 66, until the lock screw reaches theend l5 of the slot 'II which is the po-' sition indicated by dash linesin Fig. 5. With the pumping member in the lposition shown in solid linein Fig. 5, and the portion 6G in the dash line position, the compressivepressure on the tube 'I4 is released to permit the removal orpositioning of the tube in the pump or to permit free fluid flow throughthe tube. It will be appreciated that, in the form of the inventionshown in Fig. 5, it is not necessary to provide the eccentrically boredbushing or other means for changing the offset of the pumping memberwith respect to the axis of the cylindrical wall for the compression onthe tube between the cylindrical wall and the pumping member is relievedby the portion 60 of the wall being displaced outwardly.

It will also be noted that, in displacing the wall portion 60 outwardly,while the tube is in the chamber, it is generally only necessary torelease the lock screw 12 and rotate the pumping The wall portion 63will move outwardly under the pressure of the pumping member against thetube. Therefore, it may be found that the extension 'I3 is not necessaryto displace the portion 60 in most cases.

The provision of the wing type head on the lock screw 12 is ofconvenience for the rapid manual release of the screw to relievecompression on the tube.

The pumping member and the housing may be constructed of any suitablematerial, such as 7. metal or` plastic, and the tube may be of anystandard type having suicient resiliency-to recover its shape betweensuccessive cyclic operations.

It will be appreciated that the pump may be used effectively and willfulfill all the objects of the invention in many applications. However,it may be of interest to note that the pump has been found of particularuse for the pumping of blood, especially in blood transfusions. Theaction of the pump does not result in any measurable amount ofhemolysis, i. e. a destruction of the blood cells. A pump embodying theinvention Ihas been used for regular transfusions as well as forintra-arterial transfusions. Present transfusion techniques require thatsome means be available in the operating room by which blood can betransfused rapidly into the patient. None of the various methodspreviously available had the same degree of simplicity and safety asthis new pump which may be operated without priming, which may usostandard tubing, and which does not require sterilizing before usingbecause the blood beingpumped through the tube does not at any time comein Contact with the pump. Furthermore the tube may be placed in the pumpwithout disturbing the ends of the tube and the compressive pumpingaction of the pumping member may be relieved to permit free flow of thefluid through the pump without the inconvenience of removing the tubefrom the pump or providing complicated valves and additional tubing forlay-passing the pump.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have hereindescribed the principles of the operation of the invention, togetherwith theelements which I now consider the best cmbodiments thereof, butI desire to have it understood that the structure disclosed is onlyillustrative and the invention can be carried out by other means. Also,while it is designed to use the various features and elements in thelcombinations and relations described, some of these may be altered andmodiiied without interfering with the more general results outlined.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a pumping device for moving fluid through a flexible tube havingresilient walls, by compressing successive contiguous areas along alength of said tube during each pumping cycle, the combination,comprising, a chamber having a cylindrical wall, a floor portion and anopen end, a cover adapted to be removably xed on the open end, saidchamber being formed to dene at least one opening in the cylindricalwall and having at least two channels extending from said opening in thewall to the outside of the chamber, a flexible tube, said chamber beingadapted to receive a loop of tube adjacent the cylindrical wall and withthe ends of the tube extending outwardly through the opening in saidwall, said opening and said channels extending upwardly to the open endof the chamber to permit the placing or the tube in the opening and thechannels by passing it in from the open end, the wall of the chamberbeing of suicient axial length to accommodate the tube when incompressed condition, a cylindrical member having a diameter smallerthan the diameter of the cylindrical wall of the chamber, means forrotatably mounting the member for rotation about its axis and means formoving the axis ofthe member in a path about the axis of the cylindricalWall so that successive areas of the peripheryfof the member compresssuccessive contiguous areas along the length of the loop of tube againstthe cylindrical wall during each cycle of the member in the path aboutthe axis of the cylindrical wall, the tube being substantiallycontinuous around the wall of the chamber so that the member commences anew cycle upon the completion of thepreceding cycle an outwardlydisplaceable portion of the cylindrical wall and means for displacingsaid portion of the cylindrical wall outwardly for relieving thecompressive pressure on the tube when the periphery of the member ismoved into compressive position at that portion of the cylindrical wall.y

2. In a pumping device for moving fluid through a exible tube havingresilient walls for compressingr successive contiguous areas along alength of said tube during each pumping cycle, the combinationcomprising a chamber having a cylindrical wall, a door portion and anopen end, a cover adapted to be removably positioned on said open end, aflexible tube, the cylindrical wall of the chamber being formed todefine at least one opening therein providing an exit to the outside ofthe chamber, said chamber being adapted to receive a loop of tube sothat it lies adjacent the cylindrical wall with the portions of the tubebeyond the loop extending outwardly through the opening in the wall, thewall also being formed to define at least one channel extending fromsaid opening in the wall to the open end of the wall, the wall of thechamber being of suicient axial length between the floor and the openend to accommodate e. tube when it is in compressed condition, acylindrical member having a diameter somewhat smaller than thecylindrical wall of the chamber, means for mounting the member forrotation about its axis and means for moving the axis of the member in acircular path about the axis of the cylindrical wall so that thesuccessive areas of the periphery of the member compress successivecontiguous areas along the length of tube against the cylindrical wallduring each cycle of the member in a path about the axis of thecylindrical wall, said cover being provided with at least one projectionto extend into the channel formed in the cylindrical wall torestrictively hold the tube in place.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,645,479 Carpenter Feb. 16, 1932 2,035,159 Henry Mar. 24,1936 2,102,523 Ferrara Dec. 14, 1937 2,123,781 Huber July l2, 19382,231,579 Huber Feb. l1, 1941

